Receptacle closure



4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 28, 1946 z 5 5/ 7 5 O M 2 0 3/ :L /O 4 52/1 ffmu 6 1 l 7&1.. .N\\\ Q Z// 7 n @ai n Il "n n INVENTOR C. E.BROWNELL.

RECEPTACLE.' CLOSURE` Aug. 7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1946INVENTOR I Mv ATTRNEYS Aug. 7, 1951 c. E. BROWNELL RECEPTACLE CLOSURE 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 28, 1946 4 INVENTOR C//ffcD/QY E. Brow/76H B@W @w/M ATTORNEYS atentecl ug. '-7, 1951 RE QEPTACLE CLOSURE CliffordE.` Brownell, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor of oneffourth to Ashley F.Wilson, East Aurora, N. Y., and one-fourth to Erwin N. Wilson, onefourthto Lyndon A. Wilson, and one-fourth to S. Shepard Wilson, all of Bualo,NLY.i

Application September 28, 1946, Serial No. 699,??7

3 claims, (c1. 2201-36) This invention relates to receptacle .closuresand particularly to pedal mechanism foroperating such closures.

Metal receptacles of the kind familiarly employed domestically inkitchens and the like for reception of garbage and other waste materialsare conventionally provided with hinged cover elements or lids and havepedal means whereby the cover maybe raised and lowered by footoperation. Devices of this kind in the prior art usually operate in suchmanner that foot pres.1 sure raises the cover or lid and removalogf footpressure permits Ithe lid to close. In prior art devices of this classno provision is made for retaining the lid in an 4open position and thiscan be done only by manually grasping the open lid or by maintainingfoot pressure on the operating pedal.

According to the present invention, means are provided whereby footpedal depression opens the lid and the lid remains in open position whenfoot pedal pressure is removed. Further, arrangement is such that asubsequent depression of the pedal with the lid `in `open positioncauses the lid to be closed. In this way the lid may, whenever desired,Abe `maintained in open `position without any special manipulationVaniwith- `out the necessity vfor retaining foot pedalpressure.

Whenever the `two-stage `pedal .operation is not desired, the pedalmaybe used toloperate the lid in conventional manner without retainingthe cover inopen position by merely restraining the degree oi pedal`depression to a less vamount than that required to .move ,the cover toopened retained position.

Conventional receptacles of the class hereunder considerationarecylindrical and therefore lid operating pedal `:mechanisms must adaptthemselves to such constructions. In anyeve'nt, space limitations aresuch `that `preferred.pedal mechanisms comprise a lever extending"fromfront to rear ofthe device beneath the usable receptacle space, with anoperating pedalat `the front end of the lever and avertically disposedlink extending from the rear end of the lever tothe lid hinge structure.By disposingsuch single vertical link exteriorly of the confines of thereceptacle, a simple and practical construc-` tion is achieved.

Several novel mechanisms for accomplishing the aims of the presentinvention are set forth in the following specification and areillustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example, but it is tobe understood that `the scope of the present invention is not limitedthereto or otherwise than as dened Vin the appended claims. Variousmechanical modifications and adaptations of 4the'illustrated mechanismswill occur to those skilled in the art, within the scope of the presentinvention.

rest von rail Il andb `suppe In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of one form of receptacleembodying theprinciples of the present invention; i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary yiew o n an enlarged scale of the hinge portionof the receptacle of Fig. 1 viewed in the same manner as Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a .view similar to Fig. 2, but with porftions of the hingestructure broken away and with the parts in another position .ofOperation;

Fie- 4 is a V.View .Similar .to Eis. 3. but Showing a still furtherposition wof operation;

Fie. 5 is a view similarv t0 Fies- Band 4 show,- ing still `anotherposition ,oi operation; g

Fie. 6 is a top `plan View of `the hinge structure .viewed intheposition of Figs. l and 2; t

Fis. '1 is a View ,Similar .to Fia 4 but Showing a modied form ofthekoperjating link thereof;`

Fie- 8 is an .elevational .View ,of .a receptacle havinganother form oflid operating mechanism `ammini-ins the .principles .of .the .presentini/ntion; i i

Fig- 9 is .3. gmenfy .e-.nlafgd eleyatolfl ViewA of Athe hingestruciur Of the resisted@ .fsf Het .viewedfas mais 8; Fia A10 is a .View Similariii-Fis- -9' but ,with Darf tions of the hinge structure tirolienVawayand the parts in another position ofoperatin;

Fig. 11 is a yiew "similar lto Fig. 10 but in still another positionofoperation; 4and Fig. 12 .is a `view similar to Figs". l0 and 11 with theAparts in a still further positionof operation.

Throughout tthe sev-:ral ifigures of `the drawings like .characters ireferenceldenote .like parts and the Vnumeral I5v designtsfacylindricalfcasing having a lid or cover Alli` disposable thereon." Del`vices of this `class 'are conventionally/,provided with an innerremovable A`rieceptacle (not shown) and `consequentlyfthev .casing I5comprises merely a bottorrless hollow cylinder. A `laoriaontal bar l1.may entend' diametifically'iacross the interir of casing`li,-being.sec1`fed tlflereto` at its opposite ends by"welding"r thelike." 'Iri'practice theV inner receptacle, which usually comprises apaiL'inay "'rte'd thereby.

`.Rail Il .also pro'vides fa' `nv'enint fiulcrum jor an operating lever[8 .whCh is pivot'ed thereto `as at `l S and projects from `the ,forwardside `ef Athe casing l5 wherefitzteri'iiinates'in an operating pedall.Lever .lfalso'iprojects at therear of .the casing 'iawherelitis pivotedto `afgeneraily upright V.link [2@ .as'at L2-S. liever t8 ,is normallybiased t0 the elevated residen illusiraiedin .Fis-

ing to rotate the lever ina `clockwise direction as viewed in ,-Fig.,1.

Lid .I6 hasnxedrto `its rear .portion ahinge elementi() 4as.rbyimeans`of `aflange .3i :formed on the hinge elementgand weldedA or otherwisefixed to the interior of-lid I6, aszappears clearly from Fig. 2. Hingeelement 30 further comprises an inverted U-shaped portion 33 and an end1 flange 34 Which terminates in a semi-circular curl 35.

A cooperating hinge element 40 is iixed to the outside of casing l andincludes a pair of spaced parallel flanges 4I and 42. The anges 4| and42 are provided with inwardly formed bosses 43 and 44 upon which thecurl 35 bears concentrically. The outer edges of flanges 4| and 42 arearcuate concentrically with the axis of bosses 43 and 44 and curl 35 andlthe inner surface of the web of channel portion 33 of the movable hingeelement rides against the arcuate portions of flanges 4| and 42, thus:cooperating with curl 35 and confining hinge velement 30 and lid I6 topurely pivotal movement in all normal operating positions of themechanism.

The manner in which hinge elements 30 and 3| are assembled is of no'concern here and forms the subject of my co-pending application of evendate herewith.

A pair of flanges 5| and=52 may be struck from the web of channelportion 33 of movable hinge element 3|] and a cotter pin 53 or otherconvenient means for providing a pivot fulcrum extends through flanges5| and 52. The upper end oi link 24 is enlarged to provide a roundednose portion as at 55 and provided With a slot 56 through which cotter-pin 53 passes. VSlot 56 appears best in Fig. 3. At a point somewhatbelow slot 55 link 24 is provided with a xed laterally projecting pin58. The numeral 60 designates a cam plate which is disposed adjacent theupper end of link 24 and has upper and lower slots 6| and 62, the formerengaging over cotter pin 53 and the latter for receiving pin 58 of link24; When the lid I6 is closed as in Fig. 2, cotter'pin 53 rests intheupper end of slot 6| of cam plate 60, `iust as it does in Figs. 3 and 4.

Beginning with theparts in the position illustrated in Fig. 2,depression of the treadle 2| by a user causes lid I5 to open by pivotalmovement about the bosses 43 and 44. This movement is produced byengagement of the upper end of link 24 against the under side of the webof channel portion 33 of hinge element 30. vsure and con-sequent upwardmovement of'link 24 moves lid I6 randits hinge element 36 to theposition illustrated in Fig.` 3. During this movement, cam plate 60moves upwardly bu-t to a lesser 4degree than the upward movement` oflink 24,

cam plate 60 being moved upwardly only by engagement of cotter pin 53against the upper end of slot 6|.

" YThis relative movement causes pin 58 of link 24 to ride upwardly inslot 62 of cam plate 60 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, and thearcuate movement of cotter pin 53 about the axis of bosses 43v and v44during this phase of the operation moves an upper nose portion 65 of camplate 6|] over hinge curl as shown in Fig. 3. At this point, lid |6 andits hinge element 30 are approaching their upper dead-center position.At this time lever 8 has reached its limit of counterclockwise movement,and the operator will naturally remove his foot from treadle 2|whereupon spring 26 urges the treadle2| to raised position and moveslink 24 downward.

Cam plate 60 cannot accompany link 24 in this downward movement .byreason of the engagement of nose 65 thereof over. hingefcurl 35. Be-

This pedal pres-y cause ofthe relative angulari-ty'ofy slots 6| and 62of ncam plate 60,.downward movement of link 24 from the position of Fig.3, with cam plate 6D I held against accompanying downward movement,

causes cam plate 60 to be pivoted in a clockwise direction, such pivotalmovement being generally Vabout hinge curl 35-as a pivot axis, whichprojects nose 65 of cam plate 60 against the inner face of the web ofchannel portion 33 of hinge element 3|) and moves lid |6 over center tofully opened position as shown in Fig. 4. This pivotal movement causespin58 of link 24 to enter a lateral extension 'I0 of slot 62 of camplate 6|), as shown clearly in Fig. 4. This engagement of pin 58 in theextension 10 of slot 62 locks lid VI6 in open position. A A

When it is desiredto again close lid I6, a second depression ofoperating pedal 2| again raises link 24, cam plate 60 being now raisedtherewith by reason of the engagement of pin 58 in slot extension 1U.During this movement a cam surface 12 formed on cam plate 60 abuts hingecurl 35 and causes the upper end of link 24 and cam plate to move to theleft as a unit,-as viewed in Fig. 4. This Yexerts a counterclockwisepull upon cotter pin 53 which pivots lid 6 toward closed portion. Fig. 5sho-ws the position of the parts when treadle 2 I is again fullydepressed, and at this point the operator will naturally remove his footfrom the pedal which permits the cover to fully close.

VAs pedal 2| raises during this phase of the operationl and link 24lowers, the parts move from the position of Fig. 5 to the position ofFig. 2. Toward the end of this movement, the lower lefthand corner o-fVcam plate 68, as viewed in Figs. 2 through 5 engages against the sidewall of casing I5, which pivots cam plate 60 sufficiently to free pin 58from engagement in lateral extension 10 of slot 62, whereupon themechanism is again in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 for asubsequent lid opening operation.

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the upper end of link 24 which comprisesa substantial downward extension 15 of a nose 'I6 which otherwisecorresponds in function to the nose vof link 24.

Having in mind that the construction of Fig. 7 includes an identical camplate and identical hinge elements 38 andu4, the only difference beingin the presence of downward extension 15, when the rapidly moving coveris thrown to its fully open position with pressure removed from pedal2|, the downward extension 'I5 engages securely over hinge curl 3'5 andlock-s the cover more securely in open position.

The modiiicaton illustrated in Figs. 8 through 12 will now be described.The general operation of the mechanism of Figs. 8 through l2 is similarto that of the rst-described embodiment. This embodiment comprises ahollow cylindrical casing and a lid or cover element 8|, the formerhaving fixed thereto a hinge element 82 and the latter having fixedthereto a cooperating hinge element 83. The hinge elements 82 and 83maybe identical with the hinge elements 40 and 30, respectively, of thefirst-described embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 8, a rigid cross bar 35 xed in casing 80 supports anoperating lever 86 which includes a pedal portion 81 at one end and apivotal .connection with an operating link 88 at its opposite end. Inthis form, the force of gravity acting upon the parts sufficientlybiases the mechanism to pedal-raised position without the need forspring means.

The upper end of link 88 has an arcuate slot 90 which terminates at itsupper end in a downward extension 9|. Like hinge element 30 of thefirst-described embodiment, hinge element 83 has a pair of down-turnedears 95 which form bearings for a pivot pin 96 which may be in the formof a cotter pin as previously described. The upper end of link 88 isdisposed between the ears 95, and the slot 90 therein receives pivot pin96. Below slot 9|) link 88 is provided with a cam surface |00 which isengageable against a hinge curl |0|, similar to the hinge curl 35 of thepreceding embodiment, in a manner which will appear from a descriptionof the operation.

The force of gravity normally biases the upper end of link 88 to theright as viewed in Figs. 8 through 12, so that pin 96 is normally abovethe downward extension 9| of slot 90 when the parts are in thelid-closed position illustrated in Fig. 9, wherein pedal 87 is fullyraised. When foot pressure is applied to pedal 8'|, link 88 raises andthe slot extension 9| engages pivot pin 96 and raises lid 8| to theposition illustrated in Fig. 10 when further continuous pedal depressionis arrested by engagement of cam surface |00 against hinge curl |0I. Thenatural tendency, since further depression is not possible, is to removepressure from the pedal 81. When the parts have reached the position ofFig. l0, lid 8| and hinge 83 thereof have passed their dead-centerposition so that release of pedal pressure, which permits link 88 todrop and thus release pivot pin 96 from slot extension 9|, permits lid8| to fall to a more open position as illustrated in Fig. l1.

It will be noted that in this movement from the position of Fig. 10 tothe position of Fig. 11, link 88 lowers only momentarily until pivot pin96 is in the upper end of slot 90, whereupon the further openingmovement of lid 8| actually again raises link 88 until further raisedmovement is arrested by a second engagement of cani surface |00 againsthinge curl |0| as shown in Fig. 11. At this time lid 8| is in its fullyopened position. However, since pivot pin 96 is now freed from slotextension 9 I, it is now possible to apply additional pedal pressure andfurther raise link 88, to thus effect closing of lid 8 When such closingpedal pressure is applied, cam surface |00, during raising movement oflink 88 cams against hinge curl |0| and thus forces the upper end oflink 88 to the left and, by reason of the engagement between pivot pin96 and slot 90, rotates the lid in a counter-clockwise direction towardclosed position. When the pedal has reached its fully depressedposition, the hinge parts and link 88 will have reached the positionillustrated in Fig. 12, wherein link 8| has returned back pastdead-center and will be fully closed by gravity upon release of pedal81. the parts automatically returning to the position illustrated inFig. 9.

What is claimed is:

l. A receptacle and a cover therefor, each having zzo-operating hingeformations adjacent an edge of said cover, said cover having pivot meanseccentric with respect to said hinge formations and inwardly thereofrelative to said cover, an upright link having a slot adjacent its upperend for engagement with said pivot means, said link being operable byupward movement thereof to move said cover to gravity-retained fullopenposition, said link having cam means projecting outwardly from one sidethereof carried thereby and engageable against one of said hingeformations when the cover is in raised position, whereby a subsequentupward movement of said link cams the upper end thereof laterallywhereby its slot acts against said eccentric pivot means to cause thecover to be swung toward closed position.

2. A receptacle and a cover therefor, each having a cooperating hingeformation adjacent an edge of said cover for pivotal movement of saidcover between open and closed positions,

`cover operating means comprising a vertically movable link, said covermeans having an eccentric pin and said link having a pair of connectingdownwardly diverging slots for receiving said pin, the slot nearest thereceptacle being positioned to engage said pin and raise said cover uponupward movement of said link, said cover being arranged to fall overcenter to full-open position upon release of said link and thereby movethe eccentric pin into the other of said slots, said link having aninclined cam formation engageable against a relatively fixed portion ofthe hinge structure when the eccentric pin is in said other slot wherebysubsequent raising of said link causes the cam formation to move thelink laterally toward the receptacle and thereby cause said other slotto act laterally against said pin and move said cover toward closedposition.

A receptacle and a cover therefor, each having a cooperating hingeformation adjacent an edge of said cover for pivotal movement of saidcover between open and closed positions, a pin on said cover disposedinwardly of said hinge connection when the cover is closed, coveroperating means lcomprising a vertically movable link having a slotengaging said cover pin, a cam plate likewise having a slot connectionengaging said cover pin, the slots in said link and said cam plate beinggenerally upright to provide a vertical play connection therebetween, asecond pin and slot connection between said link and said cam platespaced from the beforementioned pin and slot connections, the slot ofsaid second pin and slot connection being disposed to cause relativelateral movement of the cam plate upon downward movement of the linkrelative to the cam plate, said cam plate having an outwardly projectingcam surface for engagement against one of said hinge formations uponsaid lateral movement of the cam plate, means on the cam plate andengageable with the hinge formations for retaining the cam plate inelevated position when the cover is raised and the link movesdownwardly, whereby an initial upward movement of said link Lopens saidcover by abutment thereagainst of said link and said cam plate and asubsequent upward movement of said link closes said cover by engagementof said cam surface against said hinge formation.

CLIFFORD E. BROWN ELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

